The Ombudsman also recommends imposing penalties: dismissal from service, with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service
Lloyd Christopher Lao, former Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management undersecretaryPaul Jasper de Guzman, procurement management officerThe following, all of PS-DBM , face one count of graft:August Ylagan, employeeThe graft charges against other respondents in the case were dismissed due to insufficiency of evidence, according to the Ombudsman. The other charges filed – for alleged violation of articles 171 and 213 of the Revised Penal Code, and section 3 of the RA No.
In explaining the filing of graft charges, the Ombudsman said it found probable cause against some of the respondents. The Ombudsman said the respondents who will be charged, conspired and connived with each other in awarding, “with manifest partiality and in bad faith,” the following contracts:Procurement of 2,000 A*Star Fortitude RT-PCR test kits in the amount of P688 million
In a separate resolution, the Ombudsman said it also found Lao, Liong, De Guzman, and Laureñana guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Aside from them, the Ombudsman also found Ylagan, Uayan, and Suntay guilty of gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.